Grant Making
Supporting The Campus Community
The Las Positas College Foundation supports the mission of the College and advances its vision for the future through active resource development. Its main focus is the funding of student scholarships, supporting vital educational programs and continuing outreach to the community through college sponsored programs. It does not fund otherwise worthy projects that fall outside the mission of the organization (e.g., those that do not support the campus community or its outreach effort)
Since the LPC Foundation was founded in 2003 it has worked to underwrite activities that impact present and future students, faculty and staff. These include:
- Presenting tens of thousands of dollars yearly in student scholarships
- Funding a College Open House and Community Day in April 2005
- Supporting the Disabled Students Programs and Services with equipment such as adaptive electronic learning devices and a chairlift for the soon to be built college Aquatic Center
- Underwriting campus and community cultural events such as concerts and plays
- Granting an award for the purchase of Men’s and Women’s basketball uniforms
- Underwriting the $41,000 cost of the first cohort of The College Bound Scholars
- Presenting grants to the LPC Choir and LPC Forensics teams to assist in International travel
- Awarding nearly $13,000 to Staff and Faculty as Increasing Excellence Grants
- Funding a new Textbook Grant Program and a reinvigorated Student Emergency Textbook and Supplies Loan Fund …and many more programs.
Scholarships, Grants and Awards are made twice yearly. The Foundation’s Board of Directors has set forth some broad areas of emphasis that are most likely to receive a positive evaluation. These are:
- Programs that have a direct academic benefit to the students of the College
- Awards that deeply and significantly enrich the student collegiate experience
- Programs that assist specific groups of “at risk” members of the campus community to have a more accessible and successful college experience
- Activities that improve the ability of the faculty and staff to have a greater impact on the student experience.
- Projects that increase community understanding, support and appreciation for the mission and accomplishments of the College
- Activities for which matching or significant other funding has already been received
Grant-Making Case Study: College Bound Scholars
The College Bound Scholars program is for Tri-Valley middle school students who participate in an experience designed to enhance their success in secondary school and advancement to higher education. A six-year commitment is made to each student in each cohort.
Program Components:
- Financial support – Each College Bound Scholars program participant receives a $1000 scholarship that is invested in her / his name by the LPC Foundation. It is payable with interest when the student enters college.
- Mentoring – A mentor is assigned each student from college faculty, staff and community members. Activities are held over over the years to support families and students as they make progress towards college.
- College events – Las Positas College holds events during each 12-month year to develop the groups of scholars as cohorts. These include college success workshops, social events, teambuilding and leadership workshops, as well as other activities stressing future learning opportunities.
- Family involvement – Opportunities for parents to learn more about college opportunities are offered. Information on financial aid, admission, assessment and other college success features is presented. Additionally, parents are able to take advantage of their own opportunities to attend college.
Program Requirements:
- Residency – Students must reside in the Tri-Valley to continue in the CBS program.
- Students who drop out of school – It has not yet been determined what happens if a student drops out of school. If alternative educational options can be found, (e.g. short break in enrollment, independent study, GED) an individualized approach, supported by the school district and LPC, may be considered.
- College attendance – To receive the scholarship money, community college bound students must attend Las Positas College. However, students who are accepted and enroll at a CSU, UC campus or an independent college in their freshman year will retain their scholarship funds.
December 2007 – Observations and Comments about the first 6 months of the first CBS cohort:
Program events are designed to introduce and expose the students to the Las Positas campus, continue developing mentor / student relationships and to keep the parents involved with what to expect as their child moves through their education.
The College Bound Scholars program originally began with 31 students in the first cohort, however, through attrition, (families moving out of district, for example) the cohort size has settled at 23 active students, with parents, volunteer mentors and the support staff at Las Positas College.
The staff and mentors are very excited with this cohort: The students continue to amaze with their energy and enthusiasm. The commitment the parents show the program is very uplifting; they want their children to succeed in all their endeavors.
With each event all parties learn more about the students, themselves, and how the program will continue to support the cohort as it progresses through the six-year program.
To date the LPC Foundation has committed $41,000 for the 2007 – 2008 cohort. It is involved in active resource development to continue funding future program cohorts.
